Building Confidence, One Smile at a Time

For Larissa Castaneda, the dream of working in healthcare had always been there—but deciding exactly how to get started wasn’t easy. After graduating high school, Larissa felt the weight of family expectations.

“A lot of my family has gone to college and gotten degrees in many different fields,” she said. “The pressure was always on. Anytime I talked to my family, they were always asking if I had decided what I wanted to do yet.”

Wanting to take her time, Larissa hesitated—but eventually realized that waiting wasn’t helping her move forward.

“I decided I was wasting time,” she said. “It was time to go to school and start experiencing something. I needed a job that I could build into a career—something consistent and sustainable. I’ve always wanted to work in healthcare, but I wanted something a little quicker and more advanced to get started. I saw that UEI College in West Covina offered the Dental Assistant program and thought it would be really cool to try. I literally just walked in one day and decided to enroll.”

That decision was the turning point she had been searching for. In UEI’s Dental Assistant program, she could step into healthcare in less than a year and start building a secure future. From day one, Larissa loved the experience.

“My favorite part about it was that I got to be a student and go to class and learn—and it was solely about the subject I wanted to learn,” she said. “Traditional college makes you spend too much time on general courses, and here I got to jump straight into it. I was so excited and ready to learn. I was catching on so quickly that my classmates were coming to me with their questions. I was just having so much fun with it. The whole process was amazing.”

Still, there were challenges along the way. The fast-paced structure of the program meant Larissa had to stay on top of every assignment and be present in class.

“It goes by really fast. If you’re not hands-on or prepared or showing up to class, you’re going to miss it,” she said. “I struggled with the X-ray module. It was hard to get the hang of, but I really thank my instructor, Ms. Vasquez, because she was there for me every step of the way.”

Her instructors became her biggest support system.

“They made sure we were actually learning and retaining the information,” Larissa shared. “When I was struggling with a topic, I still had that sense of relief. I knew my instructors would find a way to help me. Failing was not an option.”

The hands-on learning also made a huge difference.

“Some modules require live patients to practice on, and I’m so grateful for that,” Larissa said. “If it had all been online or strictly lectures, I would not have learned or gained the techniques I use now in my actual dental office.”

Thanks to UEI, Larissa transitioned smoothly from student to professional.

“Immediately, I got placed at an extern site before I was even out of class,” she said. “Before classes ended, I was ready to start in an office. I was so nervous to get started, but I can see my progression as I’m getting more comfortable—and I really love it.”

She was hired by the clinic where she completed her externship. Today, she feels secure and motivated for the future.

“I was working little retail jobs. I wasn’t being productive. I didn’t have any goals for myself,” she said. “Now I can start going up the path of success, keep climbing the ladder in this field, and keep building a career. I can say I have a consistent job now. I don’t have to worry about little things like being put on the schedule or getting enough hours. I’m more secure in life. I can definitely say I’m a lot more comfortable.”

Looking back, Larissa knows she made the right choice.

“It’s a great school. It’s very quick. Every campus is unique, but West Covina is the best,” she said. “Whether it was the instructors, the office staff, or even my classmates, we made amazing friends. All around, everyone there just made the process so much better. You get hands-on learning, you get online support, and the help is there when you need it.”